Two Men, Including Police Corporal, Perish in Road Traffic Accident
A corporal and his cousin perished in a horrible traffic accident over the weekend in the west leaving their families to grieve. Corporal Lenard Puc was driving a Geo Prizm; he was travelling along with Manuel Cabb when he lost control of his vehicle and collided into a pick-up truck driven by Oscar Rivero. The accident happened on Centre Road in Spanish Lookout, Cayo around six o’clock on Saturday evening. Both Rivero and his three-year-old-son were injured and remain hospitalized. Today, the police would not say if alcohol or speeding factored in the accident. News Five’s Hipolito Novelo reports.
Hipolito Novelo reporting
Two men lost their lives after this red Geo Prizm and this white Dodge Ram pickup truck collided into each other late Saturday evening on Centre Road in Spanish Lookout, Cayo. Inside the Geo Prizm, travelling to Spanish Lookout, were thirty six year old police corporal Lenard Puc and his cousin, forty two year old Manuel Cabb. Puc was behind the while and police say he lost control, a theory the Puc Family refutes.
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
ACP Joseph Myvett
“During the accident, Puc seem to have lost control causing the accident and Manuel Cabb offered severe head and body injuries and died on the spot.”
Reporter
“Was speed a factor? Was alcohol a fact?”
ACP Joseph Myvett
“At this point in time we are not able to determine both however the normal procedure is that samples will be taken at the post mortem.”
Ervin Puc
Ervin Puc, Brother of Lenard Puc
“He was going up the hill by Universal Hardware when according to information; he was going on the right hand side when the other vehicle collided into him which was a white dodge.”
Inside the white dodge ram pickup truck were driver Oscar Rivero and his three year old son. Both sustained injuries to the body and were transposed to the Western Region Hospital for medical attention. They are listed in a stable condition. Cabb died on the scene while Puc, who died moments after while receiving treatment at the Western Regional Hospital.
Ervin Puc
“That dirt road there going up to hill, it is always lose gravel. Many people have been in accident there. Sometimes you are wrong, sometimes the other one is wrong. According to them, the other one was wrong but I wasn’t there.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Are you saying that the loose gravel caused the accident?”
Ervin Puc
“I wasn’t there but I would say that it was the loose gravel. I don’t know who had the fault but according to what they say it was the white Dodge Ram coming down the lane which caused the accident which caused the vehicle to flip many times, maybe two or three.”
After learning of his death, Cabb’s family rushed to the scene where their worst nightmare was confirmed.
Voice of: Jona Tzib, Brother in law of Manuel Cabb
“When I reached at the scene I was hoping that it wasn’t my brother. It was dark already I saw a lot of people there. They told me to go through and I saw him in the police truck already. Well the vehicle was totally damaged. All the front was broken. It didn’t look like it was a vehicle, really.”
Cabb and Puc were close cousins who would spend much time together. The purpose for their trip on that day is unknown to the family.
Voice of: Jona Tzib
“My brother in law usually goes to Los Tambos. I don’t know where they were going, maybe they were going that direction.”
Hipolito Novelo
“Do they usually go there?”
Voice of: Jona Tzib
“No. They don’t usually go there. I would say once in a blue moon.”
Hipolito Novelo
“And do they travel together?”
Voice of: Jona Tzib
“They always hang together. They were good buddies. They are cousins who always hang together.”
Ervin Puc
“My brother wasn’t a person who usually went to Spanish Lookout. I don’t know why he was headed that side. Like I said, they were good friends since they were kids. They were always good friends. When he would go for leisure time in the village he would always look for his cousin and they would always travel and have a good time.”
PC Puc who resided in Bullet Tree Village was assigned to Belize City. He was schedule to report to work sometime later that same day.
Ervin Puc
“If I am not mistaken he has been in the police department for fifteen years. Since he graduated from sixth form, he joined the academy. He has always been a prosperous police officer. He was schedule to go back to work that same day of the accident but I am not sure about the time but yes he was supposed to go back to work.”
As for criminal charges, none will be forthcoming says ACP Joseph Myvett since the investigation is pointing to PC Puc as the party at fault.
ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch
“Well we will have to conduct an investigation first and the file will definitely be submitted but I do not see at this point in time from my view of the investigations that any charges will be preferred when it is the corporal who is deceased who seemingly lost control of his vehicle.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
